Diamond Head

Oahu! The island with absolutely everything covered. Cities, entertainment, villages, shops, hikes and stunning nature. You name it. We made it here after Maui, and had some pretty relaxing days, except for the one day I decided to do a hike on my own. To the 300.000 year old crater; Diamond Head of course.

Diamond Head is not really a mountain, it’s a volcanic tuff cone. Its English name was given by British sailors in the 19th century, who mistook calcite crystals on the adjacent beach for diamonds, according to Wikipedia. Anyways, this hike is approximately one hour from the entrance to the top. You start inside the crater and work your way up to the top of the crater so that you’ll have an extraordinary view of the ocean and Waikiki underneath.

Diamond Head State Monument, on the very top, is so good that it was used by the US military as a post for preventing attacks against Honolulu. While the hike isn’t that long in terms of distance, it can be somewhat challenging due to its ascent. Parts of the trail are over uneven rock, and the 99 steps near the end of the hike are steep. Also, the only water fountains are at the beginning of the trail, so you’ll want to bring a water bottle or bottled water to stay hydrated. On a good day, this spot is seriously worth a visit!